REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.- Parking was once again the talk of the talk, quite literally as commissioners brought up the idea of changing the meter times from three hours, to twelve hours. Rehoboth Beach commissioners just changed their parking policy last year to accommodate three hour parking at metered spots. But after the season, businesses didn't like the change. that's why the parking committee made a proposal to the commissioners to make the max a twelve hour limit. Susan Gay, Rehoboth Beach Commissioner said, "The business community got some feedback that it did not just work for them that people didn't stay in town long enough." The Chamber of Commerce says that visitors voiced their concerns to them about the short term parking. Carol Everhart, with the Chamber of Commerce said, "They'd come in, they'd park, they had to move their car within three hours, they were leaving town, they were mad. They were also complaining to the business community. Trying to find parking for visitors is always an issue, but people seem to forget about the employees. Sometimes they need to park their cars and it can take up to a half an hour just to walk to work, and some extra cash just to get to their job. Olivia McDonald, an employee with South Moon Under doesn't like having to walk far to get to work. "If the weather's bad, that kind of day would be nice to find a spot closer where I can park for eight or ten hours at a time. But during the really busy season if all of these are going to be taken up all day long, I'm going to have to park just as far as I did before," McDonald said. But McDonald thinks a 12 hour limit might be a little too long. "I think a midway point would be better just because 12 hours could be overnight too. So I think that might change the dynamic of just who parks here when, but maybe a middle section, middle meeting point would be better," she said. The commissioners are thinking about the time the visitors will have. Susan says the added time will give them more opportunity to see what the city has to offer. Gay said, "If they want to pay the extra cost and go to the beach, the thinking is that they may also use that time to visit businesses and restaurants and we want to be able to give them that time." But the commissioners are now sending this idea back to the parking committee to discuss further. Nothing has been approved yet, but the commissioners are looking to make a change for the upcoming season.
Parking Meter Changes in Rehoboth Beach Could Happen Soon
